Transmission mechanism



Feb. 25, 194.7. v, HANSON- 2,416,311

TRANSMISS ION MECHANISM Filed July 6, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H zw I ,L. 14

INVFNTOR. Ve l/ansan Feb. 25, 1947. k v HANSON 2,416,311

TRANSMIS S ION MECHANISM Filed July 6, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES- ma OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in transmission mechanism; and particularly to apparatus for converting the speed of a drivin member into motion at any selected rate over a predetermined range of actuation; or to produce reverse mot on at the operator's will.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus for imparting motion through the kinetic energy of a fluid from one member to another; in comb nation with additional elements which automat cally react to changes in the effects of said fluid to cause adriven member to run at the speed desired; and which can be easily ad- .iusted to bring about motion in the opposite direction,

In its preferred form the invention comprises a rotary member having fixed vanes thereon, and desi ned to impel a fluid aga nst similar vanes carried by another member to be rotated. The vane-carrying members act through gearing of the planetary t pe, so related to said members that the resultant speed varies directly as the.

I quantity of fluid employed. Hence the final speed can be varied in almost any value or degree over the range given. Th construction further includes an attachment for modifying the action of the planetary gearing so that reverse motion 'can at any time be readily obtained.

Another object is to provide a transmission apparatus which can be regulated in a very simple and certain fashion to give all the effects above noted through the manipulation of a single controlling lever.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device by which the speed of a shaft or other driven member can be adjusted in the manner .above set forth, and yet always operate smoothly and in a very efficient manner.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent in the ensuing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; on which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. But while specific construction is disclosed, I do not wish to 'be limited to details herein set forth; reserving to 6 Claims. (01. 74-1895).

Figure. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is. a cross sectional view of 3-3 of Figure 1; showing the gearing only;

Figure '4 is a cross sectional view on the line l-J of Figure 1.

Figure' 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 5'-5 of Figure 1; inside the apparatus;

Figure 6 is a section showing the attachment for reversing the apparatus.

Figure! shows how the reversing attachment is operated.

The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

As presented in the drawings, the mechanism comprises a drive shaft I, the end of which is enveloped by a tubular driven shaft 2. The shaft I may be rotated by a constant speed motor.

or other power unit, and the shaft 2 is to be connected to any apparatus, the speed of which i is to be varied. The invention is adapted to-reduce the rotation of the shaft 2 to any desired value, from that of the shaft I down to zero.

The end of the shaft I is shown mounted in a bearing at'the top of a support 3, on a frame or base; and the shaft 2 in a similar bearing at the top of a support 4. The end of the drive shaft is reduced somewhat over a portion at one end, which is enveloped by the shaft 2; and

this shaft contains bushings 5 which surround the reduced portion of the drive shaft. Fixed myself the right to make changes in the shape,

size and arrangement of parts that fall within the scope of the invention and the general meanings of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed:

On said drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through transmission mechanism in accordance with this invention.

on the Shaft I, adjacent to support 3, is a driving or impeller member, or rotor 6, which transmits power to a similar impelled member I, that rotates the shaft 2 through gearing embracing an outer internal gear 8, upon the driven shaft. The rotor 6 is secured to the shaft I by means of a hub. 9 keyed to the shaft; and the internal gear 8 is part of a housing I 0 keyed to the shaft 2, near to the support 4.

To the rotor 6 is aflixed the half 6a of a torus ring provided with vanes II in it around its extent to impel a hydraulic transmission medium, which is preferably light oil, against similar vanes 12, in the complementary half 1a of the torus ring, secured to the circumference of the driven member 1. The latter surrounds the hub 9 of the member 6 and has a central opening I3 into which the'hub projects, so that the member or end of the shaft 2. attached by studs 2'! to the member at points 3 or rivets I 6. The opposite side or end of this casing has an enlarged opening I! facing the internal gear housing l0. Within this oil container or casing and affixed to the outer, or peripheral, edge of the part 6a is an oil guard ring l8 which envelops the driven member 1 and the vanes l2 thereon; and has a large central opening IS in line with the opening I! of the oil casing M. This casing contains the oil which is impelled by the rotor part 6 to turn the part or member 1 and this oil is directed into the oil guard ring |8 from the circumferential zone within the casing l4 through a spout or scoop tube 20. This l tube is open at both ends and it is adjusted by 1 means of a lever or handle 2|. and lever arm are rigid with each other and both 1 are mounted to rotate on a pin 22 in a fixed sup- 1 port or bracket 23, fixed to the base or bed of l the apparatus.

The scoop tube The outer end of the tube ,or spout is presented to the oil in the casing l4 against the direction of rotation; and its inner end delivers through the opening l9 into the oil guard ring l8.

In practice, as the shaft and rotor revolve,

the oil in the casing m collects against the inside surface of the casing Hi all around the circumference thereof under the action of centrifugal force. By means of the handle or lever 2| the spout 20 can be put into position to scoop up .more or less oil from the circumferential zone 1 within the casing l4 and deliver it to the oil ring |8 in which it flows between the two sets of vanes 1| and I2 and causes motion to be imparted to the member I.

The vanes H and I2 are fiat and substantially semi-circular and have curved recesses in their opposed straight edges. Hence each set can receive the half of a torus guide ring 24; which is set into these vanes 50 as to be nearer to their presence of vanes provides radially extending curved passages which are somewhat smaller in depth, but greater in width at points which are farthest from the axis of rotation.

Thus the passages or s aces between the vanes can be desi ned to have the same cross-sectional area throughout.

The gearing between the member 1 and the shaft 2 comprises not only the internal outer gear 8. but also a supporting element or member 25 in the housing l0, mounted free on the inner Th s member 25 has arms 26 eccentric to the axis of rotation, so that these two members will rotate as a unit. The member 25 bears arms 28 with journa s 29 on which are mounted planetary gears 30 to-mesh with the outer gear 8. The gears 30 are engaged by a central pinion 3| keyed on the shaft I. Through these gears the part In and shaft 2 are turned. The fluid coupling apparatus comprising the impeller and driven members with their vanes, will have one or more openings |8a in the oil ring l8 through which the fluid medium can leak out back into the oil casing l4 when the tube or spout 20 is moved to off position. The leakage will be at a very slow rate and the oil used is. of course, very thin. While the apparatus is at rest the oil will, of course, collect at the lowest point of the casin 14 as shown in Figure 1. As soon as the rotor 6 turns, carrying the oil casing around with it. the oil will form a shell or zone inside the casing 14. When the spout or nozzle is in the position shown in Figure 4, no oil will be picked up by it,

4 to be directed into the oil ring I8. When, however, this spout is swung to the left with reference to Figure 4, the curved end thereof will enter the zone of the oil and revolution of the member 1 will result.

When the arm 2| is shifted so that the oil will fill it to its full capacity, the driven shaft will turn at the same rate as the shaft I; because the gears 30 then revolve only with the members 1 and 25 and do not rotate on their journals 29. They thus carry the gear 8 with them and are really fixed with regard to the gear 8. With the rings Ba-la empty, the shaft 2 will be motionless. Intermediate positions of the arm 2| and spout 20 will give any desired speed to the driven shaft 2, between maximum speed of the drive shaft and zero. This is because when the member 1' runs slower than the member 6, the pinion 3| rotates the gears 30 and gear 8 is in effect retarded. Thus the speed of shaft 2 depends upon the amount of oil fed through ring |B to the vanes and I2. The total efficiency of the apparatus will be quite high; that of the mechanical gearing being at least and that of the hydraulic members in full coupling about The reduction in speed will always be smoothly made and quiet operation of the shaft 2 will always be assured. There is no liability that the shaft will break. There is no liability that the gear teeth will break.

In the construction of Figure 6, the gear 8 is set back far enough from the bracket 23 to permit a brake drum or ring 32 to be mounted between said parts. This brake ring is grooved in its outer face to receive a brake band 33, fixed at its end to a stud 34 on the arm 2| and a similar stud 35 on th fixed bracket 23. The brake ring is mounted on the studs or journals 27a that secure the arms 26 of the member or supporting means 25 to the impelled member 1. Obviously when the arm 2| tightens the band 34, the members 1 and 25 remain motionless; and revolution of the gears 30 around the shaft 2 ceases. But the gears 30 can still b turned on their journals 29 by the pinion 3|.

By reference to Figure '7, it can be seen that movement of the arm 2| over to the left into successive positions will give a progressively greater speed to the shaft 2 in the same direction as the shaft I, but shifting the arm 2| to the right, swings the spout 20 out of the oil zone and locks the brake band 33. With the members and 25 LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. Transmission mechanism comprising a drive shaft, a fixed pinion thereon, a hollow shaft to be driven containing one end of said drive shaft, an impeller carrying vanes fixed to the drive shaft, supporting means freely mounted on said driven shaft and carrying vanes to be operated by the first vanes, a planetary gear supported to revolve with said means and engaging the pinion, a gear engaging said planetary gear and keyed to the driven shaft, and an attachment for holding said means stationary, to cause the driven shaft to reverse. 1

2. Transmission mechanism comprising a hollow shaft to be driven, a drive shaft, a pinion fixed thereon, one end of the drive shaft telescoping within the hollow driven shaft, an impeller having vanes secured to the drive shaft, means carrying vanes to be driven by the first vanes, said means being freely mounted on the hollow driven shaft, a planetary gear supported to revolve with said means and meshing with'the pinion, a gear keyed to the driven shaft and engaging saidplanetary gear, and encircling the latter and the pinion, and an attachment for holding said means stationary to cause the driven shaft to rotate in the reverse direction.

3. Transmission mechanism comprising coupling apparatus having a driven part, a container for fluid enveloping said apparatus, said container having a central opening, a nozzle in the container to supply fluid to said apparatus, an outside fixed support for the nozzle, an arm to adjust the nozzle, a pinion rotated by said driving part, a planetary gear revolved by said driven-part and in mesh with the pinion, an element supporting said gear aflixed to said driven part at spaced apart points eccentric to the axis of rotation thereof, an outer gear to be driven by the planetary gear, a brake ring secured to said last named part, and a band thereon controlled by said arm to put said gear into reverse rotation.

4. Transmission mechanism comprising coupling apparatus bearing a guard ring and having a driven part, a container for fluid enveloping said apparatus, said container having a central opening, a nozzle in the casing to deliver fluid within the guard ring, an outside flxed support on which the nozzle is mounted, an armto adjust the nozzle, means including planetary gears to transmit motion from said apparatus, anelement supporting said gears, studs connecting said element peller having vanes thereon, a member bearing vanes to be actuated thereby, a container for fluid enveloping said impeller and said member, and

having a central opening, an outside flxedsupport, a nozzle mounted thereon to conduct fluid from said casing to said vanes, an arm to adjust said nozzle, planetary gearing, an element to support said gearing, studs connecting said element to said actuated member at separated points eccentric to the axis of rotation thereof a pinion rotated by the impellerengaging said planetary gearing, a gear meshing with the planetary gearing, a brake ring on said studs and a brake band thereon controlled by said arm to enable said Iii! means to be held motionless and said gear reversed.

6. Transmission mechanism comprising a drive shaft having an impeller and a pinion fixed thereon, said impeller carrying vanes, a hollow shaft to be driven, receiving one end of the ,drive shaft, a member having vanes to be actuated by said impeller, a container for fluid enveloping said impeller and said member, said container having a central opening, an outside fixed support, a nozzle on said support for conducting fluid to said vanes, an arm to adjust the nozzle, supporting means freely mounted on the hollow shaft, se-

cured to said member, journals carried by said means, planetary gears on said journals, a housing keyed to the driven shaft having an internal gear engaged by said planetary gears, said pinion also meshing with said planetary gears, a brake ring secured to said means, and a band on said ring controlled by said arm to reverse the gear and driven shaft.

VEIB HANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,987,985 Bauer et al Jan. 15, 1935 2,014,944 Martyrer et al Sept. 17, 1935 2,024,842 Baueret a1. Dec. 17, 1935 2,133,029 Kugel Oct. 11, 1938 2,196,585 Gette Apr. 9, 1940 2,292,482 I Roche Aug. 11, 1942 2,303,829 Dodge Dec. 1, 1942 2,314,253 Stewart Mar. 16, 1943 2,187,656 Kiep Jan. 16. 1940 2,187,667 Sinclair Jan. 16, 1940 2,264,340 Sinclair Dec. 2, 1941 1,203,265 Radcliffe Oct. 31, 1916 1,473,487 McCarthy Nov. 6,1923 2,284,934 Watson Junez, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 476,887 British Dec. 16, 1937 

